Dr JOE D’SOUZA
It is well known that the 2019 Parliamentary Elections are extremely crucial both for the people of Goa in particular and for the people of India
at large.
On the all-India scenario, Modi assumed power in May 2014 amidst disenchantment and disgust amongst the people of the country towards the perceived, “series of scams” indulged by the UPA-II government under Manmohan Singh. The Congress between 2009-2014 was perceived as a corrupt and a non-performing political party, and thus their strength in the house of 543 members of parliament was reduced to a mere 43. Even so, as an opposition party, out of power, Congress played its role well to keep the all-powerful Modi government (with over 286 seats and commanding an absolute majority) on their feet.
As of now, the manifestos of both the Congress as well as BJP at the national level are out and as such there are 3 main contenders in the fray, the 3rd being the Aam Admi Party (AAP), which is also fighting the LS polls from Goa.
The BJP has sadly nothing to promise for the Goans, except for destruction in the form of nationalization of rivers, promoting coal imports through Goan ports and fast-tracking of Mopa airport.
The Congress has promised Rs. 72,000 per annum for the poorest of the poor in the country, but what Goans want to know is about ‘special status’, ban on import of coal and protecting our coastline from the present 50 metres announced by the Centre to earlier 200 metres.
The AAP has as its priority, protection of our rivers, jobs for local and holistic development of Goa as their key issues.
Hence, if the present dispensation is allowed another 5 years of governance, our Constitution itself would sought to be changed. Hence the elections are very important for the health of the polity of our country.
On the Goa front too, we have two issues to deal with. One, the problems Goans face at the national context and the other is the local issues or the challenges concerning Goa in particular.
Today, Goa is at cross roads. We are caught up in the imbroglio concerning nationalisation of rivers, the disastrous Mopa airport, diversion of Mandovi waters to Karnataka river basin. The lawyers representing Goa have sadly made the case for Goa’s rights very weak, untenable and unsustainable to defend. Since 2012, successive BJP governments have not given research finding on EIA studies on River Mandovi to bring out a thorough research study, to spell out the damage to Goan ecology, ecosystem, gene pool agriculture, fisheries, animal and wild life.
As such there is utter chaos, degradation and destruction all around. Rural Goa is fast becoming history. The Calangute-Candolim belt is moving towards a severe manmade disaster. With airport at Mopa, the pristine environment of Pernem would be degraded and destroyed. Panjim, too, is fast losing its “heritage” status. Haphazard parking is the order of the day.
There seems to be confusion as to who the BJP would field as their candidate for Panjim, as the late Parrikar’s son Utpal seems to be counted upon to fit into his late father’s shoes. As far as Congress is concerned it has two former mayors in the fray “ Surendra Furtado and Yatin Parekh.
When asked about their priorities for Panjim, they were both very firm that the capital city requires a totally new vision for growth and development.
The Captain of Ports has left the entire city in disarray and they both agreed that the terminal building at CoP jetty is totally uncalled for and they, if given power by the people of Panjim would ensure that unscientific CoP activities would be nipped in the bud. The proposed terminal building structures of CoP on the river front would be stalled and stopped as it damages the ecosystem. Today River Mandovi is heavily polluted with sewage discharges, garbage and oil discharges. We all know the capital city today is undersized and the smart city project of the BJP has only added to the problems of the residents.
The gambling industry has taken over several houses in the heart of Panjim for use as residential units for catering, cooking and entertainment purposes for 24 hours on a daily basis. Thus, domestic water meant for residents is drawn for commercial purposes and the residents of over 40 years are left with basic water supply as hundreds of employees usurp thousands of liters of water and generate as much sewage that has been let loose in St Inez creek, which today is stinking due to load of Biological Oxygen Demand.
History tells us that the state capitals of Goa had to be shifted time and again. We haven’t learnt from history as to why we had to shift our capital from Old Goa to Panjim. If Panjimites fail to elect a competent and a capable candidate to be both the MP for North Goa as well as an MLA to represent this fast degrading capital city, we are slowly but surely going to usher in an epidemic, which would force us to reconsider shifting our capital from Panjim as we would steadily see disease and decay growing alarmingly in Goa from our capital moving outwards.
As health is truly wealth and sooner we realize it, the better it would be for us all.
